Larson receives prestigious Senate scholarship, experience
The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), a lucrative scholarship and educational experience for high school students interested in public service, has found its newest recipient within West. A proud promoter of voter education and public service involvement, junior Anika Larson recently learned of her acceptance to the renowned program. Her sights, however, have been set on the nationwide scholarship for years.
“My cousin in Vermont actually knew somebody who was in the program,” she said. “He told me about it back when I was in middle school and I knew it was always something that I really wanted to do, so I applied the first year I could, which was this year.”
Principal Erin Kohl can’t remember a Wildcat taking home this scholarship.
“This is my eighth year here and we have never had a student selected for it in my time,” she said. “Outside of that, I’m not sure, but I have never heard that we have had a student selected.”
To Kohl, Larson’s achievement is historic.
“It is absolutely a very prestigious program,” she said. “The significance is that she is one of two students in the entire state of Wisconsin who was selected, and it comes with a $10,000 scholarship.”
Obtaining the scholarship is more than just a stroke of luck. Recipients often participate within their schools and communities with a passion for serving their peers, neighborhoods, and cities.
“Anika was selected because she is involved in student council, mock trial, and her youth voting project,” Kohl said.
Larson, along with other like-minded students, forged an organization to inform communities on voting, the most critical aspect of a nation’s democracy.
“I think what really made me stand out was Let’s Vote Wisconsin, which is a youth voting initiative that I run with Simone LaBillois-Steffens,” she said. “We are working towards passing legislation that would hopefully increase voter education within schools.”
Kohl believes Larson has blazed a trail other students can follow in the future to enter the rigorous vetting process for the scholarship.
“I would say number one, they need to get involved in student council or student government, because one of the requirements of this program is that you are an elected student government official, so that is kind of a non-negotiable,” she said. “Beyond that, get involved with school and community programs. If you have opportunities to volunteer, either with school or within the community, just showing that you are passionate about community service and public service I think is very important.”
The opportunity provided by the USSYP spans beyond just the scholarship money. Recipients experience “Washington Week,” an educational meet-and-greet to enhance understanding of the federal government. Larson hopes to meet speakers who have encouraged her to pursue public service.
“I'm actually really interested and I really hope I get to meet Jake Sullivan,” she said. “Before he was a National Security Advisor for the Vice President, and now he is National Security Advisor again, but I got to listen to him at the conference held at Yale in the fall. I got to watch him speak and it was just really cool, his work is really fascinating.”
Through these experiences, Larson hopes to spearhead her ambitions of public service on a grand scale.
“I am really interested in the intersection between refugee systems and healthcare systems, so maybe working within the UN on that would be really cool,” she said. “That would probably be if I ended up studying political science or global affairs.”
While her work is only beginning, Larson’s achievements and activity at West have already set her up for an impactful future. Ultimately her desires have turned into an opportunity of life-changing proportions.
“I think just pursuing what you're passionate about; that is what got me where I am,” she said. “That is all I can really say, find and pursue what you like.”
By Marty Bond
February 26, 2021
Oshkosh West Index Issue 5 Volume 117